Suburban Outlaw honors The Greatest Generation

He's a member of what's been dubbed, "The Greatest Generation." He's seen so much in life. In his story, we track the story of America through the 20th century.

"He" is Elliott Sherman, my father-in-law, and next week we get to celebrate his 90 years on the planet.

I've always wondered what it really means to be part of the Greatest Generation. I happen to straddle two generations, the baby boomers and Generation X, and I know from my father-in-law's story that his generation has much to teach us about how to dream, be resilient and, ultimately, make a difference. While Generation X marked a spot in history, the Greatest Generation has done a lot more than mark time.

My father-in-law was born in 1924 in Brooklyn to an immigrant father and a first-generation mother. He grew up in a small apartment, living through the deprivation of the Depression. But he worked hard and all the while dreamed that one day he'd live in his own house - and own a dog.

When World War II came along, he wanted to help his nation. He was recruited to officer training school for the Navy, leaving the big city for the gorges of Ithaca, where he attended Cornell University. Eventually, his tour of duty took him to the Atlantic Theater.

After the war he returned to upstate New York, where he finished his education at Colgate University on the GI Bill. Later, based in New York City, he worked as an auditor of government contracts and testified about anti-corruption (including a congressional hearing before a young Jack Kennedy).

Later he took a job in manufacturing in New York City and, when manufacturing jobs moved to the South, he decided to go into business for himself. He had come to love the Finger Lakes in his youth, so he moved back to the area with his wife and two young boys and opened some auto parts stores.

Life was good in his small Finger Lakes community. He finally got that house and the dog he dreamed about. Everyone knew the Big El. His kids rode bikes and slept in corn fields in the summertime. He loved his wife dearly and watched her fight cancer and eventually helped her die with dignity at Strong Memorial Hospital.

After she died, he retired in his 60s, sold his business and traveled the world, even doing a stint of duty in the Israeli army at a base in the Negev.

He settled in sunny Florida, where he met and found love again with his now-wife, who had also lived a full life before she met and married and - as we tease her - now gets to put up with him.

He's now doing his second tour of duty as the guest of honor at American Legion posts, where they pay tribute to representatives of each conflict at weekly luncheons. It took 70 years, but he can finally say they do give you a free lunch.

Think about it: 90 years as a player in and witness to history. In his lifetime, radio gave way to television, and ultimately, to the Internet. Epic wars. Men walking on the moon. Assassinations and elections. And he still pays attention to what's happening in the world every day. He loves to call my husband each night just to argue with him about politics.

I love my father-in-law for the man he is, for the man he gave me and for how much he gave to so many. So while my father-in-law may be a member of the Greatest Generation, to me he's just the greatest father-in-law. Happy birthday, Big El, and thank you for your service.

Read more of Sherman's columns in Rochester Magazine - in print and on the iPad or Android tablets - and follow Suburban Outlaw on Facebook and Twitter.